Just to summarize for the sake of convo: Note that these are not official rulings, but what rumors are indicating: NCO - The unit with NCO may spend the Lieutenant Order, even if they are not the LT. Appears to work while in a link team. Tactical Sense - The unit with this rule receives an Irregular Order in addition to any Orders they generate on their own. This Irregular Order may be spent even while in a link team, without breaking the link team. So if a link team member has one link member with NCO, and one with Tactical Sense, the link team can spend a possible 12 Orders per turn. If the army has Lieutenant Level 2, they may spend a possible 13 Orders per turn. This seems to be the design crux of Invincible Army. VIRD will get a taste of it (sounds like our ORC character will have NCO, so she'll be great to put a Fusilier LT's Order to use) but IA can (and certainly should) benefit from a lot of efficient Orders to offset their high cost.
Some things from the podcast (they were reading the book) TS has an exception to the link rules, so the miniature not only activates but gets the link bonuses, but it has to be HIM the team leader. NCO is similar in that aspect, but anyone in the team can be the team leader, so you can for example use both orders on the TS guy. Patsi Garret was named in the example of how to use NCO. It can be a big troll from the podcast and @HellLois , but i really think that this is it. @Sibelius collaborates with the podcast, maybe ha can throw something extra
While true, it would be far easier to simply say that Joan and De Fersen count as Hospitallers for Fireteam composition, and then the Santiagos just come in as Wildcards. 'though that would allow Joan and De Fersen in Haris Fireteams, I don't think that's game breaking in any case. So while I'll wait to see, it certainly appears that the "Crusade Fireteam" is another example of an entirely unecessary "Special Fireteam" which could easily have been covered by an example using the existing options.
thinking about it more and more, I'm really going to miss Dart in Varuna. She's pretty much unrivaled as a Group 2 Attacker for me. As of right now, I'm unsure of who will fulfill that role for me, perhaps just. plain old crocman or a SMR/spitfire Zulu.
The Crusader fireteam is Just for Joan + 0-4 Hospitalliers: DeFersen already counts as a hospitallier (and therefore can join a Hospitalliers Haris) and Santiagos are wildcard. This special fireteam exists just to limit Joan Haris. I have to experiment a bit with a 3 man Crusade Fireteam + Teutons/Hospitalliers Haris.
A lone Kamau HMG is good too. They dont need to be in a link to do work. There's always the Bulleteer too.
Peavemakers and Sierras are a staple as a swing defensive/attack piece. Echo Bravo will do nicely as well as a low/no SWC attacker with a small order pool. VIRD got Montessas didn't they? If so that's an option. Really there's a mass of options.
As far as 0 SWC pieces that can actually kill things, Dart is pretty unrivaled. The Kamau will probably be a back-up HMG in the first group, but at 1 SWC I may just take another for my second group. To be honest I'm thinking for a second group with ~4/5 orders the Echo Bravo Red Fury will do just fine. I have a feeling list building for Varuna will only differ slightly from Acon, just in the fact that 24-36 points will always be reserved for helots.
I haven't really fell in love with he montessa yet. In Acon I prefer Dart every time. Bulletteers always make my list, shotgun or otherwise, almost exclusively as DZ defense. especially now that the shooting star is a possibility
Yeah the backup list of options is great. I've played second combat groups with Echo Bravos, Zulu Cobra Marksman Rifles and the Kamau HMG and have been pleased with each. A lot of VIRD lists will be defined by which 25-30 point units you take to help define roles.
There's Veteran Kazak wildcard in TAK and also a 2 Frontovnik 3 Veteran Kazak special fireteam, because thinking stuff through takes time, and sometimes you are just #lateforsiesta. Just that all other things being equal having more wound is better. Not a whole lot of information here actually. Why not have both? Like Veteran Kazak :D You can't use an irregular order in a link. Or you can, but it will break it (or yourself out of it, not sure). Like the Infinity rules need more special cases and exceptions... I always wodnered, why to people talk about themselves in the third person.
Well the rumors from spanish podcast suggest something otherwise (anyone in link team with NCO can use Lt order). Of course this can be wrong due to translation/not seeing the rules etc. itd. but that the "current" state.
Good to know. Thanks for the confirmation. Honestly I would have been surprised if any model in the fireteam could use the NCO order. Here’s hoping that Patsy has the rules and gear to get good use out of that order!